Changes

Among the donors to Bush in the primary against Reese were the widow of [[General]]  [[Douglas MacArthur]], former CBS television president Frank Shakespeare, former Ambassador to Great Britain Anne Armstrong,<ref>Anne L. Armstrong (1927-2008), a long-term Texas Republican figure from tiny Kenedy County  near Corpus Christi, was the first woman to keynote a national party convention, the 1972 GOP conclave in Miami Beach,  [[Florida]].</ref> and former and future Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]] as well as automobile executives from [[Detroit]] and oil tycoons from across Texas.<ref>Reese, p. 138.</ref> It was in this campaign too that Bush first met his political operative and long-term advisor, [[Karl Rove]].<ref>John Gizzi, ''Human Events'', January 4, 2005.</ref>

Among the donors to Bush in the primary against Reese were the widow of [[General]]  [[Douglas MacArthur]], former CBS television president Frank Shakespeare, former Ambassador to Great Britain Anne Armstrong,<ref>Anne L. Armstrong (1927-2008), a long-term Texas Republican figure from tiny Kenedy County  near Corpus Christi, was the first woman to keynote a national party convention, the 1972 GOP conclave in Miami Beach,  [[Florida]].</ref> and former and future Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]] as well as automobile executives from [[Detroit]] and oil tycoons from across Texas.<ref>Reese, p. 138.</ref> It was in this campaign too that Bush first met his political operative and long-term advisor, [[Karl Rove]].<ref>John Gizzi, ''Human Events'', January 4, 2005.</ref>

Reagan political advisor [[Lyn Nofziger]] urged the former governor to support Reese because of Reese's political experience and past loyalty to Reagan. Nofziger dispatched Reese a $1,000 check from Reagan's political action committee, Citizens for the Republic.<ref>Reese, p. 139.</ref>  After Reagan donated to the Reese campaign, Texas gubernatorial candidate Bill Clements and his wife, the former Rita Crocker, visited Reagan at the former governor's home in Pacific Palisades, [[California]]. Clements was a Bush family friend who had served as assistant defense secretary under Rumsfeld in the Ford administration and had been the finance chairman of the elder Bush's unsuccessful 1964 U.S. Senate race against the Democrat Ralph William Yarborough. Clements urged Reagan to match the $1,000 contribution that Reagan had rendered to Reese by giving equally to the second Bush. Nofziger claimed to have told Clements:  "'Mr. Clements, we don't do business that way.' Nothing more was said about it."<ref>Reese, p. 139.</ref>

Reagan political advisor Franklyn Curran "Lyn" Nofziger (1924-2006) urged the former governor to support Reese because of Reese's political experience and past loyalty to Reagan. Nofziger dispatched Reese a $1,000 check from Reagan's political action committee, Citizens for the Republic.<ref>Reese, p. 139.</ref>  After Reagan donated to the Reese campaign, Texas gubernatorial candidate Bill Clements and his wife, the former Rita Crocker, visited Reagan at the former governor's home in Pacific Palisades, [[California]]. Clements was a Bush family friend who had served as assistant defense secretary under Rumsfeld in the Ford administration and had been the finance chairman of the elder Bush's unsuccessful 1964 U.S. Senate race against the Democrat Ralph William Yarborough. Clements urged Reagan to match the $1,000 contribution that Reagan had rendered to Reese by giving equally to the second Bush. Nofziger claimed to have told Clements:  "'Mr. Clements, we don't do business that way.' Nothing more was said about it."<ref>Reese, p. 139.</ref>

Reagan and his political team had a rule against making endorsements in contested primaries except for incumbents. Reagan broke his own policy to assist Reese. In the spring of 1978, Reagan came to Abilene, Texas, at the time outside the 19th congressional district, to deliver a speech. Reagan was accompanied by his aide [[Michael Deaver]]<ref>Reese, p. 139</ref> and Ernest Angelo, Jr., the Republican national committeeman, co-chairman of the 1976 Reagan primary campaign in Texas, but also a Midland friend of the elder Bush. Reese recalls that Deaver and Angelo urged Reagan not to become involved in a contested primary. Nofziger countered by reminding Reagan that he owed nothing politically to the Bushes.<ref>Reese, p. 139.</ref> This was two years before the formulation of the Reagan–Bush national ticket. Reese, however, said to Reagan: "I told him that I needed his public endorsement."  Thereafter while in Amarillo, also outside the 19th congressional district, Reagan filmed a 30-second spot for Reese, with the former governor's hand on Reese's shoulder. Reese added that despite philosophical differences he has attempted to maintain cordial ties with the Bushes over the years.<ref>Reese, p. 139.</ref>

Reagan and his political team had a rule against making endorsements in contested primaries except for incumbents. Reagan broke his own policy to assist Reese. In the spring of 1978, Reagan came to Abilene, Texas, at the time outside the 19th congressional district, to deliver a speech. Reagan was accompanied by his aide [[Michael Deaver]]<ref>Reese, p. 139.</ref> and Ernest Angelo, Jr., the Republican national committeeman, co-chairman of the 1976 Reagan primary campaign in Texas, but also a Midland friend of the elder Bush. Reese recalls that Deaver and Angelo urged Reagan not to become involved in a contested primary. Nofziger countered by reminding Reagan that he owed nothing politically to the Bushes.<ref>Reese, p. 139.</ref> This was two years before the formulation of the Reagan–Bush national ticket. Reese, however, said to Reagan: "I told him that I needed his public endorsement."  Thereafter while in Amarillo, also outside the 19th congressional district, Reagan filmed a 30-second spot for Reese, with the former governor's hand on Reese's shoulder. Reese added that despite philosophical differences he has attempted to maintain cordial ties with the Bushes over the years.<ref>Reese, p. 139.</ref>

Political writer Kevin P. Phillips, who in 1969 coined the phrase "the emerging Republican majority" in the title of a book, claims that Reese refused to endorse Bush for the general election. The newcomer was dismissed as "too preppy, to Yalie, to be truly Texan."<ref>Kevin Kevin P. Phillips, ''American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush'' (New York: Viking, 2004, {{ISBN|0-670-03264-6}}), p. 46.</ref> Reese, however, indicates that he voted for George W. Bush every time that Bush's name appeared on a Texas general election ballot. Reese also recalls that he attended a Bush fundraiser in Midland after the runoff election.<ref>Reese, p. 140.</ref>  Bush does not indicate in his memoirs if Reese came aboard for the general election but adds that the Reese challenge "toughened me up as a candidate. I learned I could take a hard punch and keep fighting and win."<ref>George W. Bush, ''Decision Points'', p. 40.</ref>  Bush mentions that Reagan called him immediately after the runoff election to offer assistance for the general election, but Bush declined to use either his father or Reagan in the campaign.<ref>Reese, p. 140.</ref>

Political writer Kevin P. Phillips, who in 1969 coined the phrase "the emerging Republican majority" in the title of a book, claims that Reese refused to endorse Bush for the general election. The newcomer was dismissed as "too preppy, to Yalie, to be truly Texan."<ref>Kevin Kevin P. Phillips, ''American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush'' (New York: Viking, 2004, {{ISBN|0-670-03264-6}}), p. 46.</ref> Reese, however, indicates that he voted for George W. Bush every time that Bush's name appeared on a Texas general election ballot. Reese also recalls that he attended a Bush fundraiser in Midland after the runoff election.<ref>Reese, p. 140.</ref>  Bush does not indicate in his memoirs if Reese came aboard for the general election but adds that the Reese challenge "toughened me up as a candidate. I learned I could take a hard punch and keep fighting and win."<ref>George W. Bush, ''Decision Points'', p. 40.</ref>  Bush mentions that Reagan called him immediately after the runoff election to offer assistance for the general election, but Bush declined to use either his father or Reagan in the campaign.<ref>Reese, p. 140.</ref>